When was about 8 years old (about 35 years ago) I had just learned that the word n***** was a powerful derogatory word. I was in my parents car while they were in a store one afternoon and wanted to see want kind of a reaction such a word would garner. An African American woman was walking by the open car window. I yelled “n*****” as she walked by.
Obviously taken aback, she peered in the window and apparently wasn’t expecting to see an 8 year old. She looked so hurt- she retorted with “whitey” and kept on.
I wish I could apologize to her.